Sanchez is the founder of Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP, a Chicago law firm.

One of seven children of a family that emigrated from Mexico, Sanchez is receiving the award in recognition of his passion for early childhood education, among other efforts, according to a release.

Earlier this year, he chaired the Ounce of Prevention Fund Annual Luncheon, where he implored guests to support the work of Ounce, whose purpose is to develop education programming for young children.

He’s also a member of President Barack Obama’s President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, which he was appointed to in May 2011.

“That’s my big thing,” Sanchez said, referring to his efforts in early childhood education. “Latinos are the fastest growing segment of this country and if we want them to be an asset to this country we need to get the youth educated and educated early.”

Sanchez founded Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP, the second largest minority-owned law firm in the country. He’s also a former commissioner for the Lisle Police Department, a position he held for 15 years.

One of his life’s goals is to allow Latinos an opportunity to find the successful path he did.

“I hope to be a role model. When I was young, there were no professional Latino lawyers. I only had Perry Mason,” he said, adding that the lawyer TV show was a big part of how he discovered his passion for law.

Sanchez will accept the award at the gala, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Chicago.

To be chosen from a pool of more than 100,000 lawyers across the state is a huge honor, he said.

“It’s basically the equivalent of a Man of the Year award,” he said. “I am honored. I’ve attended the gala many times. I never imagined someday I would be the recipient.”

Proceeds from the Gala will support the Illinois Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Illinois State Bar Association, in its mission to ensure meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and to assist lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity.

For more information, or to buy tickets, call 312-726-6072 or visit illinoisbarfoundation.org.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story indicated Manny Sanchez is the former police chief of the Lisle Police Department. Rather, Sanchez is a former police commissioner with the department.

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